Digging Deeper: Players Who Wore No. 50

We started at 100 days and are now at the halfway point of the countdown.

In 50 days Ohio State will start the 2018 season against Oregon State. Below, you will find a list with the 28 players who wore No. 50 for the Buckeyes. Today's featured players are Gordon Appleby, Doug Datish, Vernon Gholston and Mike Brewster.

Today's Trivia Question

Can you name the first father and son combo to be named captains at Ohio State? Hint: The Herbstreits (Jim and Kirk) were second and the Johnsons (Pepper and Dionte) were the third.

Players Who Wore No. 50 At Ohio State

PLAYER

WORN

B1G MVP

TEAM MVP

AA

CAPT.

1R NFL

ALL B1G

AC AA

NFL DRAFT

AC B1G

LETTER

Samuel Drakulich

1993

1993

William Dye

1934-36

1934-36

Vic Marino

1937-39

1939

1939

1937-39

Earl Martin

1941

Gordon Appleby

1942-44

1943

1944

1945

1942-44

Stephen O'Dea

1945

1945

James Ruehl

1952

1953

1952

Thomas Dillman

1954-56

1954-56

William Beam

1959

1959

Norman Vanscoy

1960

1960

Tom Federle

1963-64

1963-64

Robert Newcomer

1965

Robert Smith

1967-69

1967-69

Anthony Pitstick

1971

1971

Michael Datish

1975

1975

James DeLeone

1979-81

1979-81

Timothy Odom

1984

1984

Jeff Davidson

1986-89

1989

1989

1990

1987

1986-89

Jim Borchers

1990-93

1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

1990-93

Eric Gohlstin

1994-97

1997

1995-97

Nick Mitchell

1999

Mike Stafford*

2000-02

2000-02

Doug Datish*

2003-06

2006

2006

2007

2004, 2005, 2006

2004-06

Vernon Gholston

2004-07

2007

2008

2007

2006-07

Mike Brewster

2008-11

2010

2011

2010

2008-11

J.T. Moore*

2010-12

2011

Jacoby Boren

2012-15

2014, 2015

2013, 2014, 2015

2013-15

Nathan Brock

2016-18

*Wore another number at Ohio StateDid not earn a varsity letter while wearing No. 50

Ohio State:
The Buckeyes were 21-7 with Appleby on the team.
1942 National Championship.
1942 Big Ten Title.
1944 Big Ten Title.
1944 team went undefeated.
Went 2-1 against That Team.

Honors:
1943 Team MVP.
1944 Captain.

Appleby's career at Ohio State:

Gordon Appleby played for Paul Brown at Washington High School in Massillon. Appleby, Horace Gillom and Tommy James were seniors for the Tigers when Brown was hired to coach Ohio State. All three followed him to Columbus.

Appleby was voted the team MVP team in 1943 and selected as captain for the 1944 squad. Carroll Widdoes was hired as head coach for the '44 campaign when Paul Brown enlisted in the Navy. With Widdoes and Appleby, the '44 team finished the season undefeated and was invited to play in the Rose Bowl. Appleby and the other offensive linemen also cleared the way for Les Horvath to win the Ohio State's first Heisman Trophy.

At that time, the Big Ten did not allow teams to play in postseason contests. After a vote, it was decided that Ohio State could not compete in the Rose Bowl. The season was over, but the Buckeyes finished a season undefeated and untied for only the second time in school history. Army was ranked first in the final AP Poll, Ohio State was second. Fun fact, the '44 team had 44 players on the roster and 31 of them were freshmen.

The New York Giants selected Appleby in the 1945 NFL Draft, but he never played in the NFL.

In the third, Gordon Appleby put the Buckeyes in great field position when he recovered a fumble at the Wolverines' 23. Ohio State made Michigan pay for the turnover when he scored from a yard out. The Buckeyes missed another extra point, however, so led just 12-7.

6-5, 295...from Warren, Ohio...Received his degree in history at the end of Winter Quarter and is currently attending graduate school...will step in at center for graduated Nick Mangold...has big shoes to fill but is more than capable of doing so...has played and started all three interior line positions for the Buckeyes, including all 12 games last year at left tackle...was named offensive linemen of the week following the Iowa, Illinois and Michigan games last year and was the offensive player of the game after the win over Michigan State...a very good football player and an outstanding leader...his father, Mike Datish, played for the Buckeyes in the mid 1970s, so his scarlet and gray roots run deep.

Considered one of the to lineman in the nation (in high school)...won first-team All-Ohio honors as a senior...was a standout on both offense and defense and was selected as the Associated Press Division II Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...played basketball as a freshman, but concentrated on football his last three years.

Ohio State:
The Buckeyes were 41-9 with Gholston on the team.
2007 Big Ten Title.
2006 Big Ten Title.
2005 Big Ten Title.
Defeated Notre Dame 34-20 to win the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.
Defeated Oklahoma State 33-7 to win the 2004 Alamo Bowl.
Gholston is the all-time leader at Ohio State with 14.0 sacks and 111 sack yards in a season (2007).
Gholston is tied for first all-time at Ohio State with 4 sacks (Wisconsin, 2007).
He is third all-time at Ohio State with 113 tackles for loss yards in a season (2007).
Vernon Gholston had the fourth most tackles for loss in a game when he had four against That Team and Wisconsin in 2007.
His 25.5 sacks ranks him fifth all-time in sacks for a career at Ohio State.
Went 4-0 against That Team.

6-4, 206...from Detroit...Two year starter and a possible All-American candidate...Ohio State's next standout at the "Leo" or drop end position...was recruited as a linebacker and now puts those skills and speed to use when rushing the quarterback or dropping into coverage...can play any of the four down lineman positions...an excellent pass rusher with his combination of size and speed...bench presses 455 pounds and is one of the strongest players on the team.

Was a dominant player in high school and considered one of the top defensive prospects in the Midwest...totaled 75 tackles, including six sacks, as a senior...also an all-state selection as an offensive guard his senior year.

6-5, 305...from Orlando, FL...four year starter at center and a pre-season All-America...36 starts...outstanding athlete with great instincts for the game...will be a leader along the offensive line...experience has paid dividends in his execution and technique...only junior to rank among finalists for the 2010 Rimington Trophy.

In high school, he was an outstanding offensive lineman in Florida...U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Maxwell Award...Parade and EA Sports All-America...USA Today all-USA...Orlando Sentinel Top 5...Tampa Tribune "Best of the South"...Atlanta Journal Constitution "Super Southern 100"...enrolled at Ohio State in January, 2008.

Ohio State Overview: Mike, who graduated in December 2011 with his degree in strategic communications, is one of the finest centers to ever suit up for the Scarlet and Gray. He has also been a strong leader of this program, one who was always willing to speak on behalf of his team.

A 2010 All-American and first-team all-Big Ten Conference performer, Mike is a four-year starter for the Buckeyes. He was named (with Mike Adams) as the team's 2011 Jim Parker Award winner as the team's outstanding offensive lineman. He was also one of four team captains as voted on by the players.

He capped his Buckeye career in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl by making his 49th consecutive start, the second-longest streak in school history (Luke Fickell started 50 consecutive games). Mike was named a game captain a team-high eight times this past season, including in six of the last seven games.

He was named to the Rimington and Outland Trophy watch lists at the beginning of his senior season. Mike was a Freshman All-American in 2008 after playing in 12 games and starting the final 10 games of the season. He went on to start all 13 games in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

A four-year letterwinner, Mike was the only junior in 2010 to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as the nation's outstanding center. He played in a total of 51 games.

No. 50 In The NFL Draft

NAME

YEAR

ROUND

PICK

POSITION

TEAM

GORDON APPLEBY

1945

3

26

C

BEARS

JIM RUEHL

1953

11

130

C

GIANTS

JEFF DAVIDSON

1990

5

111

OG

BRONCOS

DOUG DATISH

2007

6

198

C

FALCONS

VERNON GHOLSTON

2008

1

6

DL

JETS

Today's Trivia Quesiton

Can you name the first father and son combo to be named captains at Ohio State? Hint: The Herbstreits (Jim and Kirk) were second and the Johnsons (Pepper and Dionte) were the third.